(Radio Iowa) – A southern Iowa man has grown a piece of fruit that’s destined to set a world record. A state official has verified that Dave Bennett of Davis County grew an eggplant that weighs eight-point-33 pounds.  “I’ve been growing eggplants for probably five years now,” Bennett says. “Two years ago I set the state record at 5.6 pounds.” Bennett picked up the hobby from his second cousin, a past winner of the Big Pumpkin competition at the Iowa State Fair.

After growing pumpkins and watermelons, Bennett got intrigued with the purple fruit after meeting a Minnesotan who’d grown a four pound eggplant — and the rest will be history. Bennett has been assured by a representative of Guinness World Records that his paperwork is in order. “Eventually I will have a plaque that says I grew the world’s largest eggplant,” Bennett says. Right now, the world’s largest eggplant is in Bennett’s refrigerator, in hopes of entering it in the Iowa State Fair.

“I’m going to see what it looks like next week and I might arrangements about bringing it up. I don’t know yet,” Bennett said. “It might start wrinkling up and spoiling, I don’t know.” An inspector with the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Weights and Measures Bureau went to Davis County to weigh the eggplant this week. Bennett used greenhouse grade fabric to create a shade over the plant during its final days outside before it was measured.

Dave Bennett with his 8.33 eggplant. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship)

Bennett says you start the growing season by planting “giant variety” seeds, then trim down the vine so it’s supporting just one eggplant. “You just keep fertilizing and stuff like that and hope for the best,” he says.

Eggplant is often treated like a vegetable on the dinner table, but it’s actually a berry, so it’s a fruit. Bennett has never eaten eggplant and ordered it at a restaurant recently, but had to pay his bill and leave to make it to a concert before the dish was served.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Splash Pad Fundraising Committee Chairman Jeremy Butler, Thursday, said it’s likely the project will not be completed by Labor Day, as hoped. Butler said a combination of factors, including heavy rain this past Spring, supply chain issues and other delays – both expected and unexpected – means the project won’t be finished before cooler weather sets-in. The completion date is now expected to take place next spring.

Grading for the splash pad is done, Butler said, and the rock base for the concrete and plumbing is installed. It’s expected the pad concrete will be poured the week of August 12th, weather permitting.

Conceptual Splash Pad image

The actual Splash Pad components are not expected to arrive until sometime in September.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI/Iowa State Fair]— The Iowa State Fair’s list of Iowans of the Day was released, today (Thursday). The Iowan of the Day program was created by the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation in 1997 to honor outstanding Iowans who have made a difference all across the state, according to a news release from the foundation.

Winners, selected by a committee after a nomination process, are awarded a day of recognition at the Iowa State Fair. Each day at noon on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage they will be recognized and presented as an Iowan of the Day. They also receive four State Fair admission tickets, four Grandstand concert tickets, use of a golf cart, VIP parking, accommodations at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown and $200 cash.

Two western Iowa residents are among those who will be recognized:

Saturday, Aug. 10: Roxanne Cogil of Jamaica

Roxanne’s volunteer work spans far and wide, positively impacting those around her. She is an active member of several community organizations, including the Yale Community Club, where she participates in organizing meals, fundraisers, the 4th of July Celebration, and the Steak Supper. Roxanne also contributes to the Jamaica Lions Club, where she has been fundraising for a bike repair station on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. Roxanne also serves on the County Council, supports Habitat for Humanity, and serves as a National Weather Service Weather Spotter for Guthrie County.

Additionally, Roxanne is a large supporter of community youth and youth in agriculture, volunteering with the Guthrie County Fair, serving as the Vice President of the Panorama FFA Alumni Chapter, leading local 4-H groups, and assisting her local Boy Scouts troop. At Calvary Chapel, she is a youth group leader and participates in various service projects, mission trips, and the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes initiative. She also volunteers at Panorama High School events, including prom and the concessions stand.

Furthermore, Roxanne is an advocate for those with disabilities as she serves as the Executive Director of Regional Teams for the Epilepsy Foundation and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa, and the Department of Human Services Case Management Advisory Board. Previously, Roxanne served as the President of the Autism Society of Iowa Board of Directors and organized an Autism Awareness team for RAGBRAI.

Monday, Aug. 12: John Klein of Treynor

John sees a need in his community, develops a solution, and makes it a reality. His dedication is particularly evident in his efforts with the youth through the Treynor Optimist Club and other community organizations.

He has written grants for numerous community projects, including a new playground for East City Park. John also organized swim lesson sign-ups and provided round-trip bus transportation from Treynor to Council Bluffs, making this essential skill more accessible to local families. He supports the Treynor Community Can Kennel, which benefits various youth groups and has raised over $246,000 to date. John also created the Mulch Madness event on Arbor Day, where 5th graders and volunteers plant new trees and mulch existing ones on the school campus and in city parks. Furthermore, he contributes to the Watch DOGS mentoring program and volunteers for the Cardinal Combine youth football activities.

Beyond his work with the youth, John is active in various community initiatives. He has helped organize City Block Parties, a thank-you banquet for Treynor Fire and Rescue Volunteers, and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department. He also established a community volunteer organization called Cardinal Core.

Other honorees include:

Thursday, Aug. 8: Marilyn Sokol, of Belle Plaine

Friday, Aug. 9: Pat Burch, of Norwalk

Sunday, Aug. 11: Nelson Klavitter, of Dubuque

Tuesday, Aug. 13: Crystal James, of Ottumwa

Wednesday, Aug. 14: Tate Giesemann, of Bellevue

Thursday, Aug. 15: Rodd Holtkamp, of Primghar

Friday, Aug. 16: Elaine Graham Estes, of Des Moines

Saturday, Aug. 17: Kendall Pals, of Algona.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Beyond the Call of Duty End of Watch Ride to Remember will be riding into the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office (2814 200th St., Sidney, IA) this Sunday, August 4th, from 2:45-to 4-p.m.  The End of Watch Ride to Remember is a dedicated group of motorcycle riders from the state of Washington escorting a 40′ trailer across the country to honor fallen officers from the prior year.

• In 2024 – EOW will be honoring 259 fallen officers killed in the line of duty in 2022 and 2023 at 234 different
  departments, beginning June 1st, 2024 – 22,500 miles and 73 days.
• In 2022 EOW honored an unprecedented 611 fallen officers killed in the line of duty in 2021 ~21,000 miles and
  79 days.
• In 2021 – 84 days, 22,300+ in honor of 339 officers killed in the line of duty in 2020 (the longest continuous ride
  in the United States, and the longest memorial ride)
• In 2020 – 18,000 miles in honor of 146 officers killed in the line of duty in 2019

Founder, Jagrut Shah, a former deputy sheriff, says they want to show departments and their families who have lost partners and friends they are not alone. “I wanted to bridge this gap that we have and give back to the departments and let the surviving officers and their families know that their loss has not been forgotten.”

The organization’s event name is based on an officer’s “End of Watch”. An End of Watch Call or Last Radio Call is a ceremony in which a police dispatcher issues a final call to a fallen officer over the radio, followed by silence. All officers in that department hear the call, and observe the silence, remembering their fallen brother or sister.

https://endofwatchride.com/

Beyond the Call of Duty is an organization that, through its “End of Watch Ride to Remember” event, recognizes police officers – throughout the nation – who died while in the line of duty. In 2022, the End of Watch Ride honored 611 fallen officers across the country. This year, they are honoring the 259 officers who lost their lives while serving their community. End of Watch Ride to Remember is on a mission to pay their respects to each of them and assist the families of the fallen however they can.

“A peaceful community is a prosperous community and we owe a debt of gratitude to those officers who make it possible for us to live in a peaceful and free society”, said Jagrut Shah. To find out more and see all of the cities the End of Watch Ride will be visiting this year, please visit www.endofwatchride.com.

*********

ABOUT BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY

“Beyond the Call of Duty is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing and honoring first responders who have died or been gravely injured in the line of duty. We are committed to supporting their survivors by providing emotional support as well as financial resources, and partnering with departments to reduce death and injury by increasing safety awareness and providing financial resources.

Over the past four years, through generous donations from people all across the country, the organization has been able to assist several departments with memorials to honor their fallen, purchased a K9 for a department, and donated two Harley Davidson motorcycles to two worthy departments. In addition, Beyond the Call of Duty has donated funds to families so that they could have a Christmas, sponsored families to attend events honoring their fallen officer, and is in the process of creating a safe network for survivors to connect with and support one another.

The organization’s support of each family is based on their specific situation and need. Our desire is to take the worry and stress off them so they can focus on healing and putting their lives back together.”

(Radio Iowa) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to provide help to Iowans affected by floods and tornadoes this summer. The agency says self-employed Iowans are now eligible for FEMA assistance and their programs can help replace items like a computer, tools for manual labor or musical instruments. FEMA’s Tiana Suber says it’s one more way they are providing help.

“Our job is to make sure that you understand the application process, and that we are walking you through each process so that you understand what it is that you are eligible for, what monies you’re eligible for, how you can get help, and what other resources can be available to you to help you in that recovery process,” she says. Suber says FEMA is also offering guidance on salvaging family heirlooms that were damaged.

“How to recover photos, how to recover books, and if it’s really, really delicate, they will give you information on what conservators they can find for you or you can contact to get help with more sensitive things that you might not be able to do on your own or you’re too afraid to mess up those,” Suber says. Suber says those needing help have a variety of ways to reach a FEMA representative:

“You can go to disasterassistance.gov , you can call the hotline at 1-800-621-3362. Or, if you’re really fancy you can go on the FEMA mobile app as well it is not required for you to apply online first before visiting the Disaster Recovery Center,” she says. The family heirloom recovery specialists will be in Rock Valley Friday from 9 a-m until 1 p-m at the city park shelter house.

Iowans under disaster declarations in Adair, Adams, Buena Vista, Cedar, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, Humboldt, Jasper, Lyon, Mills, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Union, and Woodbury counties are eligible for assistance.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials say St. Ambrose University in Davenport will become the non-profit owner of the Mount Mercy University campus in Cedar Rapids within the next two years. The presidents of the two Catholic universities held a news conference to discuss the merger and sign the agreement. Federal officials and the commission that reviews U-S college and university academic standards have to review the merger plan and approve it.

After the merger, the Cedar Rapids school will become the Mount Mercy Campus of St. Ambrose University and classes will be held on both campuses. Mount Mercy’s president says it’s a very challenging time for higher education in the U-S, especially for small private institutions like his. Since 2011, student enrollment in U-S colleges and universities has dropped each year. Fifteen non-profit colleges in the U-S closed last year, including Iowa Wesleyan in Mount Pleasant.

Saint Ambrose president Amy Novak and Mount Mercy president Todd Olson sign merger agreement in Cedar Rapids. (St. Ambrose University photo)

Last spring over 27-hundred students were enrolled at St. Ambrose and about 14-hundred students were enrolled at Mount Mercy. Three months ago, the presidents of the two institutions announced students could enroll in a range of in-person or online classes at either school for the fall semester. The Davenport Catholic Diocese founded St. Ambrose in 1882. The Sisters of Mercy founed Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids in 1928.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Myers Industries, Inc., today announced the consolidation of their rotational molding facility in Atlantic with company facilities in Indiana, as part of an effort to reduce costs. Myers Industries said they expect the closures to be completed in 2025 and deliver approximately $5 million in cost savings in 2025.

According to a statement released by the company, production at the site will end in 2024 and the Atlantic plant will officially close December 31, 2025. Approximately 60 full-time employees are based in Atlantic, which was acquired by Myers with its purchase of Elkhart Plastics in 2020. Nearly all the positions will be eliminated by the end of this year. Employees will be given the opportunity to apply for opportunities with other Myers facilities. Current Atlantic customers will be serviced from Myers plants located in Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, or Washington.

Myers Industries President and CEO Mike McGaugh said in a press release:

“Our second-quarter results reflect the Company’s first full quarter with Signature Systems. This business is benefiting from worldwide investments in Infrastructure and helped drive both sequential and year-over-year revenue growth and margin expansion. Signature’s performance outpaced the demand headwinds in the Recreational Vehicle (RV), Marine, and Automotive Aftermarket end markets.

“We continue to focus on growing our Storage, Handling & Protection portfolio, most notably our four power brands: Akro-Mils, Buckhorn, Scepter, and Signature Systems. We believe our increased participation in the Military and Infrastructure end markets will provide meaningful growth for our Company over the next several years.

“At the same time, we are taking actions to reduce costs and increase productivity in the Engineered Solutions and Automotive Aftermarket portfolios. These actions include the consolidation of three distribution centers in our Myers Tire Supply business, as well as today’s announcement of the consolidation of our Atlantic, Iowa, rotational molding facility (Elkhart plastics) into our other rotational molding plants in Indiana. We are able to reduce our footprint and reduce our cost structure, due to the productivity gains we’ve achieved. We expect these closures to be completed in 2025 and deliver approximately $5 million in cost savings in 2025 as well.”

Elkhart Plastics/Myers Industries – Atlantic, Iowa

McGaugh concluded, “As a result of continued trough-like demand conditions in these end markets, we believe it is prudent to lower our full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to a range of $1.05 to $1.20.”

(Radio Iowa) – A dairy specialist with I-S-U Extension says the number of dairy entries at county fairs has been down in areas of northwest Iowa due to bird flu outbreaks. Fred Hall says entries in Sioux County, for example, fell 30 percent.  “Absolutely, it’s a concern. Probably the biggest reason is it can go from a bird to a cow to a human. Now, fortunately, cows get sick, and they go off production, but they don’t die. You don’t have to euthanize them,” he says. Every competitor must show proof of a negative test to allow their cow in.  “If they’re coming from a premise where there are lactating cows, has to have a bulk tank test and has to then have a sick pin test, and they all have to be negative,” he says.

Hall also stresses that pasteurized milk is safe to drink. “The high-path virus is not very durable. So, once it’s been exposed to the traditional pasteurization temperatures, it’s dead,” Hall says. “You may find particles and pieces, but there’s no virus that can cause the contamination to spread.”

The Iowa State Fair is one week away and Hall says officials with the Fair also expect fewer dairy cow competitors due to the bird flu.

(By Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)